The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House

About the Book: 

It is 1901 when clockmaker and brilliant tinker Sydney Forrester inherits Blakely House, the eclectic estate of an estranged uncle she's never met. The well-known but mysterious industrialist has left behind a stunning array of peculiar inventions--and a couple of nephews intent on removing this interloper from the estate. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle's death, the late master's nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate's butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master's brilliance as well as his property--or someone else will.

My Review: 

Sydney Forrester lives with her Aunt Lottie in a small shop that repairs clocks. Having to pretend that there is a man who owns it, Sydney and her aunt must fix them in secret and barely are scraping by. When a mysterious woman presents Sydney with an opportunity to claim an inheritance to Blakely House, she is intrigued and desperate enough to investigate. I fell in love with the unusual house and all of its unique inventions.

The author has a way of weaving elements of her stories into faith. With Sydney, she sees herself as a broken clock that is in need of repair, but several important people in her life help her to see that she is a rare and precious gem instead. I was touched by this and also the character of Emmett Sinclair, the man who was behind the marvelous inventions.

Things to love about this story:
Gothic atmosphere
mystery
mechanical gadgets
pirates and wreckers
service to man
sacrificial love
redemption

I highly recommend this book. Once again, Ms. Politano has written a beautiful story with an intricate plot and rich, complex characters. I was intrigued from the beginning of the story all the way to its conclusion. This was one story that I really didn’t want to see end, and I’d love to see it made into a movie.

I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Some Like It Scot

 

An American travel writer who has never found a place to belong and a reclusive Scot with a surprising secret find a shocking connection when she enters a Highlands manor house that has been turned into a three-week long Edwardian experience.

Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes--or even countries--was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she'd found her perfect match. But as she's nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she's starting to wonder where "home" actually is. Her own family hadn't felt like home since her sister's death left them all limping through life.

When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.

As Katie attempts to live "Edwardian," she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if "home" looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra "ayes" thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?

My Review:

You’re sure to enjoy this opposites attract story as writer/ social influencer Katie Campbell is on assignment in beautiful Scotland. Katie likes traveling around the world, but could her adventures be avoiding some painful things in her life? Graeme loves his homeland and is invested in restoring his family’s ancestral abode. Could he also be avoiding his past by holding onto things that are familiar?

I loved Graeme and his gruff exterior that protected his loving and sensitive heart. Katie was in need of rescuing several times and earned the name Miss Adventure quite easily. You are sure to laugh at the scrapes she finds herself in throughout the book. Graeme had a full time job just making sure she was safe!

Things to love:
meet cute
humor and puns
kilts
funny monikers
Graeme’s family
Book club grannies
Highland games

Favorite quotes:
“Love lingers long.”

“No matter where you run or how fast or far, you’ll never outrun your own heart.”

I highly recommend reading this book. I received a copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.